Gibbons gave his blessing to the venture, claiming to "appreciate DC's reasons for [the] initiative".

J. Michael Straczynski, writer on Dr Manhattan and Nite Owl, spoke out in support of DC's decision to commission Before Watchmen in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

"Ever since Dan DiDio was handed the reins (along with Jim Lee) over at DC, he's been making bold, innovative moves that might have scared the hell out of anyone else," he said.

"At a time in the industry when big events tend to be 'OK, we had Team A fight Team B last year, so this year we're gonna have Team B fight Team C!' Dan has chosen to revitalise lines, reinvent worlds and come at Watchmen head-on.

"It was, I think, about two years ago that he first mentioned that he was considering the idea, and he's to be commended for fighting to make this happen."

Reaction from across the comic industry has otherwise been mixed. Artist Joe Bennett, a fan-favorite Hawkman illustrator, told Digital Spy that he would have turned down the opportunity to work on the project.

"If DC had invited me to do any of these books I would have refused," he said. "I really won't mess with a great sorcerer."